I recently had the pleasure of hearing Ray Simon, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, speak at the Teacher Leadership Conference in Pierre. Ray shared his favorite Dr. Seuss story, “Hooray for Diffendoofer Day.” (A refreshing deviation from what you might expect of a federal government employee!)

If you are not familiar with the story, it’s about the Diffendoofer School in Dinkerville. Miss Bonkers, a teacher who is “different-er than the rest,” saves the day for the principal, Mr. Lowe, and the entire school by rising to a challenge, trusting in her skills and inspiring her students to achieve.

The story reminded me of the great resource we have in our teachers, and it reminded me that it is absolutely critical that we, as administrators, invest wisely in this resource. The opportunities to invest are endless, and any dollars put towards this investment will pay off in the long run. You will be rewarded with skilled, well-equipped and positive teachers – the type of teacher you want to have on your team.

Sending your teachers to professional development workshops is one way to keep them fresh and up-to-date on all the latest research and teaching tools available to educators. That is the purpose behind Governor Rounds’ Teacher Leadership Conference. Mentoring programs also provide a vehicle for supporting first-time teachers and principals, so they can benefit from the years of experience that have gone before them but still blaze their own paths.

Finally, one of the easiest ways that you can invest in your teachers is to listen to them. This simple action, often overlooked amidst a school administrator’s many responsibilities, pays great dividends. So, invite your teachers into your office for a few minutes of face-to-face time. Visit them in their classrooms. Facilitate opportunities for your teachers to share with, and to learn, from each other. Those few minutes that you invest in your teachers today will contribute to a productive and happy team down the road.